PARENTS could be prosecuted under a Labour clampdown on booze adverts, legal experts have warned.

The party’s public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson wants alcohol displays banned in some public places, including near to schools.

His Private Members’ Bill lodged at Holyrood also proposes on embargo on caffeinated alcoholic drinks, such as tonic wine Buckfast.

Under the former GP’s plans, alcohol adverts would be outlawed within 200 metres of schools.

It would also become an offence to promote drink at cultural and sporting events where most attendees are under the age of 18.

But Holyrood’s Health Committee, which is studying the Alcohol (Licensing, Public Health and Criminal Justice) (Scotland) Bill, has been told the proposals are unenforceable. In its submission, the Law Society of Scotland warns mothers and fathers could unwittingly fall foul of the law by wearing sponsored clothing on the school run.

This provision accordingly runs the risk of not just affecting persons with an interest in advertising but also, unknowingly, members of the public

“Given this wide definition, it would appear in our view that an offence would be committed, for example, where a poster referring to a sporting event sponsored by a drinks company was displayed within the window of a private dwellinghouse in a restricted area or if a parent or guardian wears a football or rugby jersey with an alcohol sponsor when collecting children from school.

“This provision accordingly runs the risk of not just affecting persons with an interest in advertising but also, unknowingly, members of the public.”

The Portman Group, which represents the alcohol industry, and the Advertising Standards Authority said there were already a string of voluntary regulations in place to protect children, including an existing ban on outdoor commercials within 100 metres of a school front gate.

Dr Simpson also wants banning orders to prevent those who get drunk and take part in crime or disorder from being admitted to licensed premises.

Other measures in the Bill include bottle-tagging schemes, which have been piloted in Dundee and Glasgow and which are aimed at tackling underage drinking. Bottles are tagged with a link to the seller, helping police to trace the vendor of alcohol found in the possession of children.

The Bill also proposes that alcoholic drinks with more than 150mg per litre of caffeine be outlawed.

A previous attempt to get the measures passed failed but Labour hopes to gain cross-party support.

But Scottish Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “The answer from the SNP and Labour all too often is just to ban things.

“There’s no question we have work to do when it comes to dealing with Scotland’s deep-rooted and complex relationship with alcohol, but we clearly can’t have a situation where parents have to worry about their clothing choice when picking up their children from school for fear of flouting the law.”

There is as yet no sign of any Scottish Government support for the new legislation.

Dr Simpson said: “It is an uncomfortable fact Scotland has a difficult relationship with alcohol. Incidences of alcohol related cirrhosis have increased steadily over the past 30 years, particularly in young people.

“My Bill is an attempt to address that, with proposals to restrict alcohol advertising, change licensing laws and ensure that people with problems get the treatment they need.

“The Health Committee recently consulted on the Bill and we received a wide range of responses.

“Many, including the Law Society, welcomed the intent of the Bill.

“Parliament will consider this in more detail when we return after the summer recess.”